SPECIAL tributes have been paid to a Thurrock woman who was one of the first female members of the armed forces.

Elsie Carter, 97, who lived at Carolyne House care home, Grays, joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service with her twin sister.

She has sadly passed away.

Her son, Ian Carter, fondly recalls her family were shocked by her decision to join the army.

She joined the ATS with twin Dorothy.

Ian, 67, who now lives in Wales, has paid tribute to his late mum.

He said: “Mum and Dorothy loved their time in the army.

“It gave them a fund of stories.

“They served in England and Wales, before being posted abroad to Belgium and Germany.

“Mum always said that Hitler topped himself when he found out that the twins were in Germany.

“She was often doing shopping for the neighbours, the old folks, as she called them, although they were often younger than her.

“The end came very suddenly, even at 97, she was in good physical health.

“She suddenly and quickly declined.

“My wife, Jayne and I were able to spend her last couple of days with her, and were comforted that she died peacefully in her sleep on January 22.

“She was feisty, fearless, all four foot 11 of her, and a figure of strength.

“If there is one phrase to sum her up, it’s that she soldiered on whatever happened.

“She had advanced dementia, but had been physically well until the Friday before she died, when she deteriorated suddenly.

“My wife, Jayne, and I came down from Pwllheli, North West Wales where we live.”

As a war veteran, Elsie’s coffin was draped in the British Legion Union Flag, and her medals and ATS badge were displayed on a special red velvet cushion.

British Legion Standard Bearers joined the funeral.

The funeral took place on January 29 at South Essex Crematorium.

She was laid to rest at the crematorium.